The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Justice Ekaete F. Obot, has sworn in sixteen newly appointed notaries public.
The lawyers were recommended by the Chief Judge and subsequently approved by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun (GCON).
Those sworn in include: Iniobong Udo Uko Esq, Vivian Ijeoma Uzoma Esq, Benjamin Emmanuel Adams Esq, Emmanuel Amos Umana Esq, Ime Aquaowa Essien Esq, Edieke Paul Jumbo Esq, Isaac Tsado Oshoriame Ephraim Esq, and Samuel Akpadiagha Etuk Esq.
Others are Ndifreke Peter Udoh Esq, Akan Obotowo Esq, Sembenge Nse Ekanem Esq, Nsima Ndifreke Akpan Esq, Ifueko Ebi Ikinmwin Esq, Rotimi Omoniyi Oniyesan Esq, Ubong Edem Offiong Esq, and Lazarus Daniel Aniezi Esq. Marcellinus Marshal Udokang Esq was, however, absent.
After administering the oath prescribed in the Notaries Public Act 2023, Justice Obot reminded the new notaries of the weight of the responsibility they now carry. She charged them to exercise their duties faithfully, prepare contracts and instruments transparently, and refrain from diminishing any aspect of such documents without the knowledge and consent of the parties involved.
She further cautioned them against attesting to any act, contract, or instrument tainted by fraud or violence, emphasizing that they must always act uprightly and justly in accordance with the oath they had taken.
Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, the Akwa Ibom State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), comrade Elder Sunny James, accompanied by members of the State executive, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Judge.
Speaking on behalf of the union, the chairman commended Justice Obot for her dedication to improving workers’ welfare. He explained that the visit became necessary as the union sought her intervention in appealing to Governor Umo Eno on behalf of about 600 judiciary workers, those in other sectors, who have remained casual staff for over twenty years, earning a meagre fifteen thousand naira monthly. He described the situation as unacceptable, especially at a time when the State Government is set to recruit 4,000 new workers into the civil service.
The NLC appealed to Justice Obot to encourage the Governor to prioritize these long-serving casual workers in the recruitment process.
In her response, the Chief Judge expressed appreciation for the visit and for the union’s concern for workers’ welfare, particularly those in the Judiciary. She acknowledged the deplorable condition of the affected workers and disclosed that the Governor had already allocated about one thousand recruitment slots to the Judiciary.
She, however, noted that if the six hundred casual workers were absorbed first, only four hundred positions would be left. She expressed optimism that the Governor, whom she described as a listening leader, would heed her request for an additional one thousand slots, even though that number would still fall short of the Judiciary’s needs.
Justice Obot further explained that once the Judiciary Service Commission (JSC), which is constitutionally empowered to recruit judiciary staff, is fully constituted, it will commence its statutory duties. The NLC concluded the visit by describing the Chief Judge as “the Pillar of Workers in Akwa Ibom State.”
